Toledo, Ohio — A group of Scott High School graduates is facing uncertainty over their higher education plans, as a local nonprofit’s promise to cover their tuition and housing remains unfulfilled. Hope Toledo, a program founded to provide financial assistance for college-bound students, pledged in early 2020 to pay for the tuition and room and board of Scott High graduates, and even promised to assist with parents’ tuition. However, as of 2025, students are finding themselves unable to register for classes or secure housing at Lourdes University in Sylvania and the University of Toledo.
The issue surfaced after Hope Toledo, the organization that had made these commitments, reportedly fell behind on payments. According to an email sent to students, the nonprofit is now three semesters behind in making payments to the institutions. While Lourdes University allowed students to register in previous semesters with the understanding that payments would eventually come through, this practice appears to have ended.
On Monday, students attempting to register for classes or secure housing found themselves unable to proceed. A Lourdes assistant dean confirmed late Monday that permission had not yet been granted to enroll affected students or offer them housing. Meanwhile, Hope Toledo maintains that all payments have been made and that students should be able to move forward as planned.
John Jones, the president and CEO of Hope Toledo, told the I-TEAM that the ongoing issues are a result of the organization’s documented financial struggles. He explained that while Hope Toledo has branched out to support initiatives such as universal Pre-K, those efforts have also encountered funding difficulties. In fact, Hope Toledo has confirmed that no Pre-K funding will be available for the upcoming fall semester, and the nonprofit is now working to place a levy on the November ballot in hopes of securing new funding sources.
The troubles at Lourdes University represent just part of a larger issue. At the University of Toledo, 18 Hope Toledo students are also impacted by the outstanding payments. A spokesperson for the University of Toledo revealed that the collective amount owed exceeds $150,000, but noted that the outstanding balance has not yet affected the students’ ability to register for classes.
Despite Hope Toledo’s assurances, the ongoing financial issues have left many students in limbo. The uncertainty surrounding their academic futures and the failure to secure housing are leaving these students in a difficult position, as they await resolution to the ongoing payment problems.
Hope Toledo, which had garnered significant attention for its promise to support local students in their pursuit of higher education, now finds itself at a crossroads. With mounting financial troubles and a dwindling reputation, the nonprofit faces significant challenges in fulfilling its promises to Toledo-area students.